Westminster: Coptic New Year service at St Margaret's Church

Archbishop Angaelos was presented with a Coptic icon depicting Prophet Nehemiah by Fadi Mikhail.

Source: Coptic Orthodox Church Centre

The annual Nayrouz (Coptic New Year) Vespers was held in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey on Tuesday 15 October. Messages from King Charles, Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were read during the event.

The service officially marked the beginning of the Coptic New Year, which is celebrated on 11 September. The event celebrates new beginnings and life, while commemorating the saints and martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church who, since the first century, were martyred for their faith. It also allows the Coptic Orthodox community to advocate for people of all faiths and none, through Refcemi, its advocacy and public policy office, raising awareness of the plight of so many across the world suffering violations of religious freedom.

A welcome was given by The Right Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon Steward and Archdeacon of Westminster, on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, followed by a prayerful vespers service which included a sermon from His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos. The service was followed by addresses that touched on the importance of faith and defending religious freedom worldwide. Addresses were given by The Lord Speaker, Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy Director of Refcemi, Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, Mervyn Thomas CMG, Founder and President of Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Chair of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum, The Lord Alton of Liverpool, and The Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Housing and Faith, who also read the Prime Minister's message.

The Right Reverend Anthony Ball, said in his welcome: "Your presence and this service stand as a witness to the way in which the whole Body of Christ seeks to work together and uncover that unity and that showing forth in the world of the light of Christ, even though in times and in many parts of the world there are the shadows of darkness. The martyrs of the 20th century are immortalised on the West face of Westminster Abbey, and of course, as we gather here, we remember those of the 21st century, not least those martyred in Libya from the Coptic Church."

In his sermon, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Founder and Director of Refcemi, drew parallels between the advocacy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the calling to all to advocate for one another, saying: "We are all as individuals called to change the world. We need to walk away from the culture that breeds self-indulgence, self-interest, and self-focus so that we become those who can then consider one another, empathise and advocate for one another as we are all bearers of the image and likeness of God."

"The Incarnate Word, God in flesh feels our pain. He instructs us to feel one another's pain. He instructs us to put others before ourselves, because that is indeed what God has done for us in the Incarnation; and that is what we are called to do."

"Today is also a celebration of something that is incredibly important, it is a transformation of pain to power, because when we look at our own pain, when we feel it, when we understand it and we channel that pain into ensuring that others do not feel it, then we start to heal. If we dwell in our own pain, if we continue to thrive on that feeling of victimhood then we are disempowered, we are weakened and we become insulated to the pain and suffering of others."

His Eminence concluded by speaking about the advocacy work of Refcemi: "We out of our pain, advocate for others. Through our advocacy office Refcemi, we speak for the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Uyghurs in China, the Yazidis in Iraq, the Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, the Baha'is in Iran, Christians in Nigeria and North Korea and around the world. That is not an exhaustive list because there is much that we must do. We must indeed acknowledge our own pain, and by acknowledging it, we must be able to feel the pain of others and try to relieve it."

"We must speak, we must act, we must be those, as we heard from today's Gospel, who do all that we have been instructed to do. To preach a gospel of hope, to heal the broken heartedness of war and conflict, to proclaim liberty to those who are captives of that same war and that same conflict, to pray sight upon those who may be blinded by power and injustice and self-interest. To advocate liberty for every person as long as they are respecting the liberty of others, and to bring forth a light of hope and joy.".

The message from King Charles III read: "On this day of reflection, I wish to express my heartfelt admiration for the strength and solidarity of your community. The spirit of forgiveness and the enduring values of humanity that you uphold serve as a shining example to us all, reminding us of the vital importance of unity and partnership.

As you look ahead to the coming year, I extend my most sincere hopes that it will be filled with peace, hope, and blessings for all present, as well as for the Coptic Orthodox Church community here in Britain and across the world."

The message from Archbishop Justin Welby's read: "I pray that the Lord will continue to pour out his blessings on you and your Church. Yours is an ancient Christian tradition which has endured much suffering over the years, and yet has survived and thrived, even in the most difficult of circumstances, and in the very different conditions of migration and diaspora. What a witness you and your people are to the enduring love of God!"

His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio presented the message from His Holiness Pope Francis, which read: "His Holiness Pope Francis... sends his greetings of good wishes to all gathered for this occasion, remembering as he recently remarked, that "the true driving force of Christian Unity is the Holy Spirit Who guides us toward greater communion…This unity is a gift whose timing and manner we cannot foresee and grows through the mutual service through the dialogue of life and through the cooperation of all Christians". The Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic blessing to all participating in the Service and, through the intercession of the Mother of God, invokes an abundance of Divine graces."

The Right Honourable Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister included the following in his message to His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos: "I am grateful for the faithful witness and constant compassion of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. Your congregations pursue social justice, care for the vulnerable and enrich their local communities in so many ways. I am particularly thankful for the role of the Coptic Orthodox Church in promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief. I recognise that the history of your community has been marked by terrible persecution and applaud your constant efforts to reduce the numbers of people around the world who suffer similar oppression today, as a result of their religious affiliations or personal beliefs."

Dr Ewelina Ochab spoke of the work of Refcemi in advocating for people suffering gross violations of their religious freedom, saying: "The Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public Policy was established out of a need to accommodate difficult conversations, and out of a need for cooperation and collaboration. The need to listen, speak and impact. Refcemi does this work with partners around the world, not only here in the UK with the UK FoRB Forum among other partners, but across the world."

The Lord Speaker said the following in his heartfelt address: "We cannot come together and celebrate this new year in this festival of Nayrouz without recalling the earliest days of the Coptic Church. In AD 284 in the time of Emperor Diocletian, Christians were persecuted. They suffered for their Faith but today we recall that their sacrifice made the Coptic community possible. They are honoured and remembered because of their faith in God and their belief in redemption."

"In parliament we count among our numbers many great figures of all religions who have strived to end religious persecution. It is Faith itself which brings them together and allows them to do such crucial work. So let us resolve in this new Coptic year to be guided by such examples. To care for all humanity, to debate with grace and humility, to always love one another and to pursue justice without fear."

Henrietta Blyth spoke about the National Week of Prayer that takes place from 12-20th October 2024 across the Nation, and called people to gather to pray for those suffering across the world, saying: "We can give in practical ways. As the Archbishop has said, we can speak out on behalf of our brothers and sisters who cannot speak out for themselves, but perhaps most importantly, we can pray. Brother Andrew, who was the founder of Open Doors who died a couple of years ago, said that prayer is the real battle. He said our prayers can go where we cannot. There are no borders, no prison walls, no doors closed to us when we pray. That's why it is such a delight that this year, this Nayrouz service forms part of the National Week of Prayer."

Mervyn Thomas, director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide said: "The list of challenges across the world which threaten freedom of religion or belief is long and of course there's a role for governments. There's a role for parliamentarians, but there's also a role for civil society and I believe all three of those groups need one another in the fight for freedom of religion or belief around the world.

Across the world, civil society actors such as human rights defenders, journalists, religious leaders, activists, NGO's and community leaders are using civic space to champion initiatives that strengthen freedom of religion or belief and challenge violations of this fundamental right."

Lord Alton of Liverpool spoke in detail in his address regarding known violations worldwide, and called for more action, saying: "Tragically, as we've been hearing from Mervyn, Henrietta and Ewelina, all over the world there continues to be no shortage of men and women whose blood continues to be spilled because of their faith. I've seen recent analysis which found that there are currently 61 countries with combined populations of over 4.9 billion people in which severe violations of religious freedom exist."

He concluded by saying: "So this Nayrouz, I hope we will make a New Year's resolution to listen far more carefully to communities like the Copts, the Chaldeans, and the Armenians, the Assyrians and others who have paid such a high price for the things that we take for granted, and have so much to teach us. We must listen but we must also speak and act in solidarity. Those words of His Eminence this evening 'we are all called to change the world' should be the words that we take away from this Nayrouz ceremony."

The Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Housing and Faith said the following in his address: "This evening celebrates the British Coptic community and recognises their efforts to aid those experiencing hardship around the world as well as your longstanding commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in UK society. These acts of kindness and generosity embody the values we should all strive for. The Coptic community is a blessing to the UK society, and we welcome your contribution to our local and national life. As the new year begins, we embrace a fresh start, look ahead with hope and express gratitude for our families, friends, and life's simple blessings, including the freedom to worship and practise beliefs without fear, rights denied to millions worldwide. I pay tribute to the Church and to you, Your Eminence, for your passionate advocacy for persecuted minorities and global religious freedom."

He went on to say: "Faith and belief must remain central to our national conversation as we confront these challenges together. Faith identity is crucial for many, and understanding this aspect of individual and community life is essential for effective governance and fostering cohesion. I see much of my role as Faith Minister as championing the invaluable work being done by people across the country who are inspired by their faith."

At the end of the service, and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal Consecration, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos was presented with a gift of a Coptic icon depicting the Prophet Nehemiah written by Coptic Iconographer Fadi Mikhail. During the presentation, Fr Shenouda Asham, the Diocesan Vicar, thanked His Eminence on behalf of the whole diocese for his tireless ministry to the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and around the world, and also made mentioned of his efforts in championing the cause of religious freedom for people of all faiths and none.

In his final word of thanks Archbishop Angaelos made special mention of the Diocesan Choir who beautifully chanted ancient melodies in Coptic and English during the service, and of the wonderfully dedicated stewards and volunteers who contributed to the welcoming atmosphere and success of the evening.

Attendees to this year's Nayrouz service included Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office, humanitarian and advocacy organisations, ecumenical and interreligious guests, as well as members of the Coptic Orthodox clergy and community in the United Kingdom.

LINK

Coptic Orthodox Church Centre - www.copticcentre.com/